IBM Support

IJ57596: KERBEROS THROWS NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION

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APAR status

  • Closed as program error.

Error description

  • Error Message: N/A
    .
    Stack Trace: Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException at
                    java.lang.StringBuffer.(StringBuffer.java:148)
    at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.KrbTgsRep.(KrbTgsRep.java:66) at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.KrbTgsReq.getReply(KrbTgsReq.java:247) at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.KrbTgsReq.sendAndGetCreds(KrbTgsReq.java:2
    54)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.serviceCreds(Cred
    entialsUtil.java:319)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.serviceCredsRefer
    rals(CredentialsUtil.java:376)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.serviceCreds(Cred
    entialsUtil.java:340)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.getTGTforRealm(Cr
    edentialsUtil.java:212)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.internal.CredentialsUtil.acquireServiceCre
    ds(CredentialsUtil.java:163)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.krb5.Credentials.acquireServiceCreds(Credential
    s.java:279)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.jgss.mech.krb5.Krb5Context.initSecContext(Krb5C
    ontext.java:324)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.jgss.GSSContextImpl.initSecContext(GSSContextIm
    pl.java:308)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.jgss.GSSContextImpl.initSecContext(GSSContextIm
    pl.java:272)
                    at
    
    com.ibm.security.sasl.gsskerb.GssKrb5Client.evaluateChallenge(Un
    known
                    Source)
    .
    

Local fix

  • The NullPointerException is not the root cause of the problem.
    The
                root cause is that the Ticket Granting Service reply
    from the Key
                Distribution Center cannot be parsed.
    

Problem summary

  • Kerberos throws a NullPointerException when a Ticket Granting
                Service Reply from KDC (KrbTgsRep) cannot be parsed
    and the
                associated KRBError has null for message text.
    

Problem conclusion

  • The Kerberos code was modified to check for null message text.
                The associated Hursley RTC Problem Report is 153905
    The associated
                Austin GIT defect in IBMJGSS#154 The associated
    Austin APAR is N/A
                JVMs affected: Java 8.0 The fix was delivered for:
    Java 8 sr8 fp65
                (20250627-465)
    
                The affected jar is ibmjgssprovider.jar
    
    .
    This APAR will be fixed in the following Releases:
    .
    IBM Semeru Runtimes
    IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition
       8    SR8 FP65  (8.0.8.65)
    .
    Downloads and supplementary documentation can be found at the
    following locations:
    - For non z/OS operating systems:
      - IBM Semeru Runtimes, Version 11 and later
        https://www.ibm.com/semeru-runtimes/downloads/
      - IBM SDK, Java Technology Edition, Version 8
        https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/java-sdk-downloads/
    - For the z/OS operating system:
      - Java SDK Products on z/OS
        https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/java-sdk-products-zos
    

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

  • APAR number

    IJ57596

  • Reported component name

    SECURITY

  • Reported component ID

    620700125

  • Reported release

    270

  • Status

    CLOSED PER

  • PE

    NoPE

  • HIPER

    NoHIPER

  • Special Attention

    NoSpecatt / Xsystem

  • Submitted date

    2026-03-11

  • Closed date

    2026-03-11

  • Last modified date

    2026-03-11

  • APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

  • APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

  • Fixed component name

    SECURITY

  • Fixed component ID

    620700125

Applicable component levels

[{"Business Unit":{"code":"BU054","label":"Systems w\/TPS"},"Product":{"code":"SSNVBF","label":"Runtimes for Java Technology"},"Platform":[{"code":"PF025","label":"Platform Independent"}],"Version":"270","Line of Business":{"code":"LOB08","label":"Cognitive Systems"}}]

Document Information

Modified date:
11 March 2026